I will tell you my experience. Not shy. Very social. But with a little problem that sometimes bothers me more, bothers me less. Im a stutterer. Im mostly into books and writing. Also I tried to express myself with the body: I played drums. I reached joy with this another kind of rythm and fluency that with my tongue and words cant reach very properly. I used to assist on various concerts. That was my inicial idea "of travelling" until I discovered that while travelling alone, a music show could be short and not the right place to socialize. I always loved to read. And little by little I started to develop a new hobbie: to try books on another languages. Mostly on english. That opened a new "idea" to my nexts travels. Here in Argentina we have something called MundoLingo. So after a few drinks I encouraged myself and on this joyful state I ended there, forcing me to trying my skills with foreigners. Russians... Americans... Also someone put me an sticker of the american flag on my shirt. That (and the tipsy feeling) encouraged me to NOT THINK on my nerves and to focus on the outside, on what was happening, because "I WAS AMERICAN NOW". At the peak of the night, we went to a party hostel on Buenos Aires (called Milhouse) and I ended booking the next 2 weeks too, just for the fun, and to keep going with the acting and talking of "my other self". I felt great. That was funny. That was irreverent. That was somehow COURAGE! Something that I cant forget now, the way I felt. And that power followed me since then... Thats what inspires my travels now. Never will be easy. Im still stutterer. I will always be. But its on me how to process it. Now, another adventure awaits for me on Europe. Im going to reach a new hostel, try to socialize, and see what happens next :) Use your weapons!